Invensys releases DYNSIM medium fidelity simulation

NEW DELHI, INDIA: Invensys Operations Management, a global provider of technology systems, software solutions and consulting services to the process and manufacturing industries, announced the availability of its SimSci-Esscor medium-fidelity simulation solution, DYNSIM Checkout.

Available as part of the new DYNSIM 4.5 software release, the solution provides the industry a new way to quickly identify, validate and resolve control and safety application design errors throughout the project life cycle, while addressing plant operator process-familiarization needs and clearing obstacles like late-arriving design information.

Medium-fidelity simulation provides a library of unit-operation models (valves, pumps, conveyers, reactors) similar to high-fidelity models, but requires far fewer engineering hours and less specialized expertise to configure and tune.

The models can be auto-generated using industry-leading plant life cycle management software that features intelligent piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&ID), thus dramatically shortening the time it takes to construct the model. The SimSci-Esscor medium-fidelity simulation solution also requires significantly less design data to complete the model, with P&ID and process flow diagrams being the key required information.

By providing this simulation facility the early stages of the project, potential control and safety application design errors, omissions and changes can be captured before construction, resulting in higher quality for the automation system, as well as significantly reduced client risk at the plant startup and commissioning phases.

Medium-fidelity models, while less complicated than high-fidelity, are also suitable for operator familiarization training, allowing operators to learn procedures “live” on the new control platform and to attain a level of knowledge that was previously impossible at such an early stage in the project. These models can be efficiently rebuilt many times throughout the life of the project and can therefore remain current with the latest control and safety designs.

“Low-fidelity tieback simulation is a common tool for control checkout, but it is not very realistic, and only basic verification of control system functionality can be performed,” said Gregory McKim, principal consulting engineer for simulation, Invensys Operations Management.

“On the other hand, high-fidelity operator training simulators are extremely full-featured and highly realistic, but their cost and schedule demands may preclude use for control system validation and checkout. Our SimSci-Esscor medium-fidelity solution bridges the gap between these two extremes: It delivers enough detail to validate the control system design; it is useful as an operator familiarization tool; it is moderately priced; it can be built within the time to support constrained project schedules; and it serves most process and manufacturing industries.”